Phantoms in Wales?

[badgerade]

http://www.llanellistar.co.uk/Phantom-jets-spotted...

This just popped up on Facebook - anyone know the background, or is it likely to be bad info?

[anonymous-user]

Not impossible, just unlikely. A few air forces still operate them.....Turkey I think, Greece has a few left......not any of the mainstream operators who would normally come and play in UK air space. And.....Pembrey?

[Eric Mc]

Sounds a bit schlocky to me. I don't think Pembrey has a proper runway anymore.

I think that the only fully operational air base in Wales now is RAF Valley.

USAF F-15s are a common sight in Welsh airspace.

[JVaughan]

IIRC the only Phantom that is currently in the UK that "could" fly is the one down at RNAS Yeovil that has been completely rebuilt / restored by the chaps down there. There was talk of her being airworthy with very few hours on the airframe & engines but no certificate of airworthiness.

She was the old Gate guardian at RAF Leuchars before she was completely stripped and restored

XV566

Grease still has them, as Eric has said, im not aware of any currently in the UK though

Edited by JVaughan on Thursday 18th September 11:04

[Eric Mc]

JVaughan said:

Grease still has them, as Eric has said, im not aware of any currently in the UK though

Edited by JVaughan on Thursday 18th September 11:04

I just knew John Travolta would want to replace his Boeing 707 with something more potent.

[Stuck In A Lift]

Eric Mc said:

JVaughan said:

Grease still has them, as Eric has said, im not aware of any currently in the UK though

Edited by JVaughan on Thursday 18th September 11:04

I just knew John Travolta would want to replace his Boeing 707 with something more potent.

[JVaughan]

yeah yeah .. ok my humble apologies for the type'O

[Eric Mc]

JVaughan said:

yeah yeah .. ok my humble apologies for the type'O

And that reminds me of a line from "Some Like it Hot"

[V8 Fettler]

Phantooooms only retired last year from the German airforce.

[Hooli]

Stuck In A Lift said:

Eric Mc said:

JVaughan said:

Grease still has them, as Eric has said, im not aware of any currently in the UK though

Edited by JVaughan on Thursday 18th September 11:04

I just knew John Travolta would want to replace his Boeing 707 with something more potent.

[Stuck In A Lift]

Just a shame the thread title isn't Whales.

[wobert]

Eric Mc said:

I think that the only fully operational air base in Wales now RAF Valley.

And Hawarden....

[Eric Mc]

I was thinking military air base with operational aircraft. There are quite a few civil airfields and there is at least one major airport .

[Yertis]

JVaughan said:

IIRC the only Phantom that is currently in the UK that "could" fly is the one down at RNAS Yeovil that has been completely rebuilt / restored by the chaps down there. There was talk of her being airworthy with very few hours on the airframe & engines but no certificate of airworthiness.

She was the old Gate guardian at RAF Leuchars before she was completely stripped and restored

XV566

You sure about that?

[anonymous-user]

I think the Yeovilton one is XV586.

The ones in best (most complete) condition are XV474 at Duxford and XV582, BlackMike, which is currently for sale. A group are hoping to secure it and restore it to taxiing condition, that is if a well know ex military reclamation company doesn't snap it up and it end up on a Suffolk airfield waiting years for a buyer.

That happened to the Ex Boscombe Down one, I believe they have an example from North Luffenham and Chattenden on the airfield awaiting a buyer aswell.

[anonymous-user]

Crossflow Kid said:

Greece has a few left...

JVaughan said:

Grease still has them, as Eric has said

I'm not Eric.

[JVaughan]

Crossflow Kid said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Greece has a few left...

JVaughan said:

Grease still has them, as Eric has said

I'm not Eric.

Well isnt today just one big mistake on my behalf

[JVaughan]

Yertis said:

JVaughan said:

IIRC the only Phantom that is currently in the UK that "could" fly is the one down at RNAS Yeovil that has been completely rebuilt / restored by the chaps down there. There was talk of her being airworthy with very few hours on the airframe & engines but no certificate of airworthiness.

She was the old Gate guardian at RAF Leuchars before she was completely stripped and restored

XV566

You sure about that?

sorry XV586



I was talking to the chaps behind the barrier as well as some ratings that I know down at RNAS Yeovil who were telling me she has been completely stripped and completely rebuilt. They were saying she "could" fly but isnt certified.

now either 3 separate sources are all telling me the same bks or its true ...

Edited by JVaughan on Friday 19th September 11:18

[Yertis]

JVaughan said:

sorry XV586



I was talking to the chaps behind the barrier as well as some ratings that I know down at RNAS Yeovil who were telling me she has been completely stripped and completely rebuilt. They were saying she "could" fly but isnt certified.

now either 3 separate sources are all telling me the same bks or its true ...

Edited by JVaughan on Friday 19th September 11:18

That's lovely. I think I've got an instamatic picture of that same aircraft taken in 1975.

[plasticpig]

Possibly a NATO member using Pembrey Sands Air Weapons Range? It's NATO asset so is used by stuff other than RAF aircraft.